A Fort Saskatchewan apartment complex was evacuated after a tenant smelled a strong chemical odour in the building Wednesday morning (May 23).

Laurier Manor landlord Janice Zahara received a call at about 7 a.m. from a tenant who had noticed the unusual odour a couple hours earlier. The Fort Saskatchewan Fire Department was notified of the issue at about 9:15 a.m. and arrived on scene a few minutes later.

Crews from Edmonton Fire Rescue’s Dangerous Goods Response Team, including two trucks and about 10 staff members, joined local emergency services in investigating the smell and evaluating the risk to residents.

The evacuation lasted just over an hour, with tenants returning inside after crews were unable to find the source of the odour (which was gone by the time the investigation was complete).

"We did search the entire building and sweep the whole building to make sure it was safe for the occupants to go back in,” Fort Saskatchewan fire chief Shawn McKerry said. “Once that sweep was completed, it was deemed safe for everyone to return to the building."

Zahara, who has been landlord of the 38-unit building for about five years, joined tenants outside as crews tested apartment hallways and examined the unit the smell was suspected to be coming from.

"There was definitely an odour but we don't know where it's coming from,” she said. She added that she was very thankful to emergency services for their help.

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